Just returned after a cruise and stay, just one point I would like to add we booked the Pyramid & Museum trip before we left via http://www.memphistours.com and I cannot praise them enough for a truly wonderful day. We had a choice of what time we left so arranged for 7 a.m. at the port gates we had a new mini bus with driver and a rep from Memphis tours to greet us (4 people) and we picked our personal guide up en route. It took around 1 hour and 20 mins to arrive at the Pyramids, and Hamed was very informative (he has worked at the museum for 6 years and seems to know everything there is to know) he was very happy to answer all our questions, and kept away anyone that looked like they were going to 'pester' us. It is a magnificent sight and not to be missed and with us arriving early we avoided the crowds. From there we went to the Museum and again it was something not to be missed, more than I can say for the perfume palace! we could stay as long as we wanted at any attraction and have time on our own, it also included lunch on the Nile (converted boat). We saw sights of Cairo that the tour buses never see as they took a lot of short cuts which was an eye opener, so much poverty. We arrived back at the ship around 6.30 after a fab day. We spoke to people on board that had paid £70 and had a very long tiring day we paid around £45 and had personal service with an excellent guide tailor made to suit us. Regards Sue

Hi Sue

Excellent information! Perhaps you would like to copy and paste your post into our DIY Excursions - Med Area topic at the top of the forum so that it will be accessible to our members rather than disappearing within this topic.

Thanks

luci

We went on this excursion back in April this year when the cruise was on the Spirit, we are doing the same cruise again on the Celebration in February and this will be the only excursion that we are doing again.
If you are expecting brand new vehicles, then this may not be for you.
They are all old pick up style trucks, that the Jordanian drivers have modified, well fitted out with cushions, but please don't let this put you off.
It is well worth the journey, and the money. My mum who travelled in the front with the driver found it highly amusing when he started the engine with a screwdriver and when she asked for the window down, was handed a pair of pliers.
It's a must to go on this and you wont be dissapointed..

Hello Thespian,
I have just seen your reply and glad i have been of some help. As far as the weather is in Dec/Jan, the best I can say is that we were in Luxor this time last year and it was lovely. On our cruise in Nov it was a few degrees hotter in Hurghada and Sharm than in Cairo and Petra which was nice as they were our busy!! days.

If you are not doing the trip to Luxor whilst in Safaga and want a boat trip to a beautiful island for lunch and a swim, with a snorkel stop on the way, if you are into that and if you have never done it have a go its a real wow factor, then I would recommend the Paradise island trip. If you want to look it up on the internet before just search for Giftan Island.

Hurghada airport is about 45 mins to an hour away from Safaga.

I also put in a search for Cairo Museum opening hours and they have a web site if you go into it there is no mention of it not being open any days, there is also a "contact us" button so you could ask them but I would have thought Thomson would have told you as that and the pyramids is really the main reason for that stop at Port Sokhna.

Have fun and all the best for Christmas and the new year.

Cheers Tricia.

hi lynne85 im also goimg on the Celebration in February with my dad , what date are you going ,

We are joining the ship on the 9th at Sharm, how about you..

We went on the same cruise in April of this year when it was on the Spirit.

we join the ship on the 22nd for 1 week at sharm, then a 1 week stay in sharm after, ill be looking out for your review when you get back, have a great time, cheeers , andy

Just came back yesterday from the red sea magic trip. absoluately fantanstic. We went on the Thomson Celebration which i thought was a little bit more warn out than the Spirit (which we went on a a few years ago) but still excellent service, food and people. Shows fantasic as usual esp "Africa". Trips are very long days. Cairo 12 hrs, Luxor 15hrs. Cairo - wouldn't do it again. you are hassled by people selling stuff and it spoils the pyramids site. even the police are in on it, you are better staying near the coachs and they tend to stay away from them. There is also 1hr staying at pyramids and then you are rushed off round the sphrix which would bebetter the other way around. you get dinner included at 5 star hotel (Meriden Hotel) which is buffet style. Cairo Museum is very crowded and the tour guide didn't really construct it very good, she spent ages explaining stuff until it got boring and then you didn't hve long looking around the mummies gallery (pay £13 extra) but king tuts exhibition is included in price of trip. then they drag you off how they make papyrus and some bazaar which was pointless. the guide offers for you to have a necklace cartouche to be made with your name on it, paid in £s and this seems to be the only reason for going. Luxor however was excellent, took 4hrs to get to Colossi of Memnon first, along little villages, you also go in convoy with other coaches from all over world and police escort, you had priority over everything. While cairo trip started like that and then all split up and ended ujp going down dodgy back roads. Luxor well organised, Hathepshut Temple, Valey of Kings, and Karnak in afternoon - long day but worth every penny. dinner at St Goerges Hotel 5 star in luxor again buffet and very nice. Also did the Glass Bottom Boat trip on day of departing which was again vry good and worthwhile. Sharm airport is a nightmare, both going and coming back. They won't let english reps into the departure lounge so they try and charge you for everyting - just ingnore them. it also gets hot in there. one bad thing about airport is that the reps are not very good at communication things and they tend to leave you to it which caused caos there and back but otherwise the holiday was fantastic. Didn't go to Petra as it seemed too much with the other tours as well and we was glad as well. there is apparently alot of walking to it from what some others on boat said and they also had a sandstorm on way back which spoiled the trip for them.

Hi Shereezy and welcome to HT!

Many thanks for posting your trip report. I'm sure members who are thinking of going or are booked up will find it useful.

If you haven't done so already, I'd be grateful if you would post a Cruise Review by clicking on the link at the top of the page.

luci

what would the temps be like this time of year ,thinking of going in next 2 weeks. thanks.

Hi Zeusy14

Just got back from the cruise. The weather is warmish in the day (low 70s)if you can avoid the wind - very difficult on the day at sea. It is very cold at night - take something very warm for the deck party. They did hand out blankets though. It had snowed in Petra so make sure you have suitable footwear and lots of layers. A fleece was fine for Cairo for when it turned cooler.

Hope this helps.

Thespian

thanks for the reply thespian, was really hopeing it would have been really warm ,glad you enjoyed though. think i'll look at the canaries instead.thanks again.

Hi
Andy-40. Me and Hubby will be on your sailing 22nd Feb, have sailed on Celebration before but not this itinery.
Mumsy

hi mumsy, im going with my dad again , witch itinery did you do last time you went on the celebration, whats the ship like, have you been to egypt before, look forward to meeting you onboard, cheers andy.........

Last time on Celebration we did the Canaries itinery, had a great time the staff on there could sure give some ships lessons on service they were outstanding. Have visited Egypt only the once before whilst on Thomson Emerald, did an overnight excursion to Cairo which was great, eager to visit the valley of the Kings this time although it will be a long day at 15hours according to website.

Hi all, just booked for the 13 Feb on the Celebration sailing from Safarga.
This will be our second cruise with Thomson on the Celebration, the first was last Feb on the Colourful Coasts Cruise.
They did us proud last time, and we're hoping for the same this time around.
Can anyone reccomend a couple of trips to take? We'd like to see the pyramids and at least one other trip. We both like walking, so perhaps an old town to explore?
The cruise is for a rest (we both worked over Christmas and it's my 50th next week), so we dont want to do all of them, but i couldnt go to Egypt and not see some of the wonderful sights.

Thanks

btw, we booked our first cruise on the back of reading this forum and weren't dissapointed. Keep up the good work!!

My advice would be to go to Petra if you like walking - it is an amazing sight. With regards to the pyramids, I would also do the trip that goes to the Cairo museum; we did and throughly enjoyed it. However if I was to go again, I would research before hand (from website and travel books)and decide where I wanted to go in the museum and dump the Thomson guide - ours wasn't very good. Have a good holiday!

Hi, I go on the Thomson Celebration for a week in the next few weeks and have found this thread informative. As its my first cruise I still have a few questions and if someone could enlighten me, it would be much appreciated. I have two kids aged 11 and 9 who will be coming with me and my wife.

1. Will I need Visas if I arrange independent tours eg. via memphistours. I am looking at booking Petra with Thomsons but fancied the independent-ness of memphistours for the pyramids/cairo museum. Price-wise, there is not much in it. Looking to book with them for around 7:15 am (supposed to be in port from 0600) so should be alright ?

2. How safe is it going it alone. I have read about police convoys. As mentioned, thinking about memphistours for Cairo and local taxi for a trip on the last day into Sharm. What time will our airport transfer be if our return flight is early evening ?

3. Any tips for the kids. Is there stuff for them to do. Are the excursions suitable. Can the kids get fruit juice free at the restaurants at any time ?

4. Thinking of taking £50 Jordanian money, £150 Egyptian money, £300 euros and my debit/credit card. Is this sufficient ? Are there safety deposit boxes and what are the charges ?

5. How is the dinner tabel sitting allocation achieved ? Are you at the same sitting once allocated all week ? Do you possibly miss dinner if you're on a trip ? Is there much queueing. Any tips ?

6. Cameras are allowed everywhere except the Cairo museum - yes ?

7. What and when is the Captains dinner (I embark on a Thursday at Sharm). Can kids go to the captains dinner ?

8. What and when is the midnight buffet (I embark on a Thursday at Sharm). Is the buffet magnifique ?

9. If the ship says it arrives at 0600 and departs port at 2100 what time can you get off at the earliest eg. 0630 /get back on at the latest eg. 2030 ?

10. If we elect to stay on the ship, for say 4 days - is there really enough things going on to keep us and the kids occupied (not big sunbathers) ?

11. Is the drinks package still available ?

Thanks for any advice.

Hi Andy
Just to let you know that I have printed your questions and tomorrow I will get all my holiday info and answer as many as I can for you. Will write again as soon as pos You lucky people wish it was me going !!!!!
Bye for now Tricia.